Understanding evacuation preferences and wildfire mitigations among Northwest Montana residents
Travis Paveglio A E , Tony Prato B , Douglas Dalenberg C and Tyron Venn D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Conservation Social Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1139, Moscow, ID 83844-1139, USA.
B Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems, University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Columbia, 130 Mumford Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
C Department of Economics, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812-5472, USA.
D Department of Forest Management, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812-0576, USA.
E Corresponding author. Email: travispaveglio@gmail.com
International Journal of Wildland Fire 23(3) 435-444 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF13057
Submitted: 10 April 2013 Accepted: 4 November 2013 Published: 21 March 2014
Abstract
There is currently insufficient information in the United States about residents’ planned evacuation actions during wildfire events, including any intent to remain at or near home during fire events. This is incompatible with growing evidence that select populations at risk from wildfire are considering alternatives to evacuation. This study explores the evacuation preferences of wildland–urban interface residents in Flathead County, Montana, USA. We compare the performance of wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction actions across groups of residents with different primary evacuation preferences. We also explore what factors (e.g. actions, demographics, attitudes towards government, risk perceptions) help explain residents’ preferences for evacuation. Results suggest that relatively high proportions of residents are interested in staying and defending their homes, with smaller proportions favouring evacuation or passively sheltering in their homes during wildfire. Vegetation management behaviour differs significantly among residents with different evacuation preferences, including significantly higher rates of forest thinning among those intending to remain at home and actively defend their residence. Other results suggest that sex, part-time residency, income and attitudes towards loss from fire are statistically associated with differences in evacuation preferences.
Additional keywords: alternatives to evacuation, communication, policy, wildland–urban interface.
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